We made it! Winter is over and it's springtime! Let's celebrate with a special week dedicated to these beautiful bulbs that brighten our gardens every spring, and we open that week with a look at the most popular of these plants.

This epiphytic orchid is a rare Florida native; once common in the Big Cypress Swamp and the Evergaldes in the southern part of the state, often found growing low on Cypress trees (Taxodium sp.) and Buttonwood trees (Conocarpus erectus), but due to loss of habitat this orchid is considered rare today. In winter after the leaves are gone, the old pseudobulbs are visibly wrapped in papery sheaths that resemble cow horns or cigars, hence two of the common names for this plant. In spring new growth and stems emerge forming multi-branched panicles expanding to 3 feet in length. The one inch wide ornate flowers have three heavily curled golden yellow petals, barred with purple spots, and a tri-lobed red lip with a yellow center spot. During mid day the flowers are highly fragrant, which attracts numerous bees; hence the other common name of Bee Swarm Orchid.